How do you feel about providing free parking for workers on Capitol Hill?

July 28, 1977

Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) recently proposed that Congress eliminate free parking spaces on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and their staffs. Staff writer Mark Sableman and staff photographer Linda Wheeler went to Capitol Hill and asked residents and Hill workers if congressional employees should continue to enjoy the nearly 8,500 free parking spaces on the Hill. Arthur L. Brezee, 58, a printing compositor who lives on the 200 block of Constitution Avenue NE: "They shouldn't get free parking. They gave themselves a 28 per cent raise and they should be able to afford their own parking. They charge us - I work at GPO - and they get it free." Shirley Byrd, 20 who is unemployed and lived at Massachusetts Avenue and D Street NE: "No, I don't think that's fair to the other people. My sister moved down here from Pennsylvania and we wnet around 20 minutes and couldn't find a parking space. I think if we have to pay, they should have to pay too." Douglas Cruickshank, 30, a worker in the Library of Congress's photo-research division who lives in Foggy Bottom: "I don't hink they should. i think they should be assessed $30 or $40 or whatever parking costs downtown. And in a year, I think, they'll have even less justification where Metro goes out of New Carrolton and up to Silver Spring." Arlene Kirby, 27, an aide to Sen. James McClure (R-Idaho) who lives in Arlington: "Sure they should. Where else would we park if we didn't have it? We don't get paid enough to pay for our own parking." David Martinez, 36, a Reston resident who uses the free parking on a pooled basis because of his job as executive assistant to Sen. John Tower (R-Tex.): "I honestly don't know how a member of Congress can serve his constituents if he doesn't have staff people who can be here at different hours. It'd be great if we have really great public transportation. It's an inequity, but that's the nature of Washington - it's the only city with the legislative branch." Gregory Papaloukas, 29, a waiter at the Club II Restaurant who lives in Silver Spring: "I think everybody should pay for it. I'll pay; why not somebody else? I'm a taxpayer, so what I pay, they should pay. That's my understanding." Michael Redman, 20, a summer intern in the office of Rep. Michael Harrington (D-mass.) who lives at 3d Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE: "I think they should continue to get it free. Someone has to park there right? So why not the congressmen and their staffs?"